Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-07-20
q Serial Stnrp.
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BY 81. RIDER HAGGARD,
AUTHOR OF ''KINa seLoMoN's MINES"
"sHE," ETC, ETC.
CHAPTER XVIII
BESSIE IS PUT TO THE QUESTION.
Meanwhile another little tragedy was being
enacted at the back Of the house. After the
one eyed witch doctor Hendrix had knocked
Silas Croft down and assisted in the pleasing
operation of dragging him to the flagstaff, it
had occurred to his villainous heart that the
present would be good opportunity to profit
personally by the confusion, and possibly to
add to the Englishmans misfortunes by doing
him some injury on his own account. Ac-
cordingly, Just before Frank Muller began to
read the dispatch announcing the English
surrender, he slipped away into the house,
which was now totally deserted, to see what
he could. steal. Passing into the sitting room,
he annexed Bessis's gold watch and chain,
which was lying on the mantelpiece, q present
that her uncle had made her on the Christmas
day before the last. Having pocketed this he
proceeded to the kitchen, where there was
goodly store Of silver forks and spoons that
Bessie had been engaged in cleaning that
morning, lying on the dresser ready to be put
away. These he also transferred, to the e1-
tent Of several dozens, to the capacious pock-
cts Of the tattered military great coat that he
wore While doing so he was much dis
turbed by the barking Of the dog Stomp, the
same animal that had mauled him so severely
few weeks before, and who was now, as it
happened, tied up in his keanel-an old wine
barrel-just outside the kitchen door. Hem
dirk peeped out Of the window, and having
ascertained that the dog was secured, pro-
ceeded. with diabolical chuckle, to settle his
account with the poor animal He had left
his gun behind on the grass, but he still held
his assegai in his hand, and, going out OF the
kitchen door with it, he showed himself with
in few feet Of the kennel. The dog recog-'
nized him instantly, and went nearly mad
with fury, making the most desperate efforts
tobreak its chain and get at him For some mo-
ments he stood exciting the animal by derisive
gestures and pelting it with stones, till at last,
fearing that the clamor would attract atten-
ton, he suddenly transfxed it with his spear,
and then, thinking that he was quite unob-
served, sat down and snuffed and enjoyed the
luxury Of watching the poor beasts last ago
mics.
But, as it happened, he was not!quite alone,
for, creeping along in the grass and rubbish
that grew on the further side Of the wall, his
brown body squeezed tightly against the
brown stones-so tightly that an Impractical
eye would certainly have failed to observe it
ut distance of a dozen paces-was the Hot
tentot Jantje. Occasionally, too, he would
lift his head above the level Of the wall and
observe the proceedings Of the one eyed man.
Apparently he was undecided what to do, for
he hcsitated a little, and while he did SO Hem
dirk killed the dog.
Now Jantje had all Hottentot's natural
love for animals, which is. generally speak
ing, as marked as is the KafRr's callousness
toward them, and hs was particularly fond
Of the dog Stomp, which always went out
walking with him on those rare occasions
when he thought it safe or desirable to walk
like an ordinary man, instead Of creeping
from bush to bush like panther, or wrig-
Cling through the grass like snake. The
sight Of the animals death, therefore. raised
in his black breast very keen desire for ven
geance on the. murderer, If vengeance could
be safely accomplished; and he paused to re-
dectif this could be DONE As he did so Hem
dirk got up, gave the dead dog q kick, with
drew his assegai from the carcass, and then,
as though struck by a sudden desire to con-
ceal the murder, undid the collar, and, lifting
the dog in his arms, carried him with diff
Guilty into the house and laid him under the
kitchen table. This done he came out again
to the wall, which was built Of loose, unmor-
tared stones, pulled one out without trouble,
deposited the watch and the silver he had
stolen in the cavity, and replaced the stone.
Next, before Jantje could guess what be
meant to do, he proceeded to make it practi-
cally impossible for his robbery to be discov-
cred, or, at any rate, very improbable, by
lighting match, and, having first glanced
round to see that nobody was looking, reach
ing up and applying it to the thick thatch
with which the house itself was roofed, and
Of which the fringe just here was not more
than nine feet from the ground. No rain had
fallen at Mooifontein for several days, and
there had been hot sun and dry wind, and,
as q result, the thatch was as dry as tinder.
The light caught IN second, and in two
more thin line Of fire was running up the
roof. E-
Hendrix paused, stepped few PAGES back,
resting his shoulders against the wall, i'm
mediately the other side Of which was Jantje,
and proceeded to chuckle aloud and rub his
hands as he admired the results Of his handi-
work. This was too much for the Hottentot
on the farther side. The provocation was too
great, and so was the opportunity. In his
hand was the thick stick on which he was 50
fond of cutting notches. Raising it in both
hands he brought the heavy knob down with
all his strength upon the one eyed villains
unprotected skull It was thick skull but
the knob prevailed against it and fractured it,
and down went the estimable witch doctor as
though he were dead.
Next, taking leaf out of his fallen enemy's
book, Jantje slipped over the wall, and, seiz-
ing the senseless man, dragged him by one
arm into the kitchen and rolled him under the
table to keep company with the dead dog.
Then, filled with fearful joy, he slipped out,
shutting and locking the door behind him,
and crept round to point Of vantage in
little plantation seventy or eighty yards TO
the right Of the house, whence he could watch
the confagration that he knew must eusue,
for the fire had taken instant and irremedi-
able hold, and also see what the Beers were
doing
Ten minutes or SO afterward that amlable
character Hendrix partially regained his
senses. to find himself surrounded by sea Of
fire, in which he perished miserably, not hav-
ing power to move, and his feeble cries being
totally swallowed up and lost in the fierce
roaring of the flames, even had there been
anybody there to hear them. And that was
the very appropriate end Of Hendrix and the
magic of Hendrix.
Down by the flagstaff the old man lay in
his fit, with Bessie tending him and posse of
Beers standing round, smoking and laughing
or lounging about with an air of lordly
superiority well worthy of victors in posses
sion.
"Will none of you help me to take him to
the house7" she cried. Surely you have ill
treated an old man enough"
Nobody stirred, not even Frank Muller,
who was gazing at her tear stained face with
fierce smile playing round the corners Of his
clean cut mouth, which his beard was
trimmed to leave clear.
ut will pass, Miss Bessie" he said; lit will
pass. have often seen such fits. They come
from too much excitement, or too much
drink
Suddenly be broke Off with all exclama-
tion md Donted To the houSe from the roof